Tag Archives: reading

Frugal Friday

Posted in California, home stuff, reading, swimming, Uncategorized by

The biggest Frugal Fail was going out for the worst breakfast ever!!! We decided to go to a new place near Trader Joe’s after we shopped called Early Toast. Wow, so awful I should have taken the $50 bill and burned it in the parking lot. Oh well, it does not reinforce my wanting to go out for meals. 😦

But TJ’s shop was good and I really was just going in for their snacks( the best potato chips ever) and curry sauce, misc items, and some wine.

We also picked up the Walmart order and the only thing I didn’t get was the turkey breast which was the only thing I really wanted in that order. 😦

Overall, a frugal week though with just the above-mentioned groceries and breakfast.

I had a good swim yesterday and the pool was really nice. The last 2 times it was quite cool which is unusual. But they must have gotten a few complaints and it was back to the way it usually is. Tomorrow I haven’t decided if I’ll swim or possibly go to the gym. I think I’ll wait and see how I feel later today.

Our weather is much cooler now but still no rain. It shows rain next week so fingers crossed. We really need the rain. We’ve been having a fire most mornings and evenings just to take the chill off the house.

I picked up 4 Ann Cleeves books from the library and started one. I have seen Vera on Brit Box so some of these books are adaptations of the series. The writing is good though. I stopped counting books I’ve read this year after 125 and that was in September. So probably I’m close to 150 books for the year. I just finished ‘A Tree grows in Brooklyn’ which was THE BOOK that influenced me the most growing up. If Francie could go to college, so could I. I was the first person in my family to ever go to college and later graduate school. Heidi, my sister, eventually earned her degree at the Catholic college she was working at. And all of her children are college educated with her oldest daughter holding a Ph.D. in nursing. ( I think it would be DNP??) not sure but she teaches.

Well, that’s all I got this morning so I’m off to do some chores and tidying up.

Books, Lots of Books

Posted in books, library, meal planning, reading, Uncategorized by

Everyone on different blogs is talking about books so I thought

 I’d add some of my recent ones. Here’s the first stack from the library

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I really have enjoyed the Cat Sitter series that takes place in the Florida Keyes. Lots of descriptions.  MC Beaton is always a good read with Hamish.

The library series”Something Read something” was okay.

Joanna Fluke’s books are always good for some new recipes. The Aunt Dimity books take place in the Cotswolds and I love that area of England so… Not that I will ever go there in real life but that’s the joy of books and traveling in your imagination.

There were cookbooks in the load too but I didn’t get a picture of them.

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Some good cookbooks to look at and maybe find some new recipes.  Mark Bittman usually has some good recipes.  “Real food “is one used before. Some stuff is the same old same old but she does have good ideas to help you take a look at what you’re buying and eating.

I’m almost done with the Marcia Muller ” the Break”. It’s good and her descriptions of SF are great.

I walked yesterday and it was absolutely freezing( 27′). That’s cold for here. We don’t usually have temperatures like that. At least later it was sunny but still cold.

I went to the gym yesterday finally and it was busy with lots of ‘new’ people still. I only used the recumbent as my ribs are really sore from coughing which is kinda weird as I haven’t really had much of a cough with this cold.

Today I’m planning on going to the koffee klatch with the library friends. I guess our FOL is kaput and dismantling. Really sad since this group was responsible for buying the building the library is in now. Well, all things do change and this little branch went downhill after I left. I’m not renewing the website which is under my name and even last year I told them no one was even going to it but no listens to me. So now, I will just not renew it.  The money left in the FOAL fund is substantial so that will need to be donated to the library for materials.

I’m making another batch of marmalade this morning before I go out.

I’ve vacuumed, swish and swiped the bathroom and got out things from the freezer for the rest of the week.

Simple Sunday

Posted in Blood test, Flylady, reading, Uncategorized by

For Christians, it’s Easter Sunday.  For the rest of us, just a beautiful day without religious embellishment.  Our walk was lovely despite the sunrise Christians out to worship some long ago person who supposedly came out from behind a rock and rose from the dead.

I’m taking a wild educated guess, that there was undoubtedly a scientific reason for it, or maybe it was just a story that kept going and getting more outrageous.  The first Gospels weren’t even written until 70 A.D., so that’s an awfully long time to embellish the story!! The first gospel was written by Mark but some scholars believe Matthew may have written his earlier than 80-90 AD.  Anyway, one simply must put into context this was over 2000 years ago and there certainly was no internet. Science was a mere blip. The earth was flat and religion was a good way to have something to believe in. Oh well, enough of my meanderings.

No gym today as it is closed. I’m going to work on a few projects. The laundry room is tidied but I still need to wash the floor.  I did paint the shelves so they are clean and bright now.  I’m going to cook some southern fried tofu with a potato bake and some strawberries for desert.

FLylady zone is the entryways and dining room. I will wash the sunroom windows and front door. We moved all the geraniums outside so that brightens it up. Everything is growing wildly.  Mowing will be a weekly event.

Next  week does bring some rain on Friday but it shouldnt be too bad and we could use it.

I need to call down to the cancer center and see when my doctor ordered my labs. He’s away this week, and I cant remember if he said he’d order them for this week or next. Since I see him next week I’d like to get them done sooner. This week I have a dentist appt for a dental cleaning and then a birthday lunch on Friday. So my week is open.

I’m reading an excellent book by Barbara Ehrenreich ” Living with a Wild God”. So far it is compelling.

 

Walking….

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Today is day 107 walking . Pretty good. I’d really like to add an extra .5 mile but with rev/dex it’s aliitle hard to do .  But overall it’s great.

we had an estimate on one of our more dangerous trees and the bid is $1075, plus the crane fee. I think it’s very fair as this includes chipping and clean up. So sometime in October it will get done. Hurray. Maybe next year we can budget the really big tree.

B is off the New Mexico for the week tomorrow , and Tuesday starts my 5 days working. I’m just going to glide thru and then rest when I come home. It should be fine.

We’ve been watching season 5 of doc Martin , it’s so great to see that scenery in northern England. It’s a great series if your looking for something new. Most libraries probably have it. 

I just started reading Elizabeth Berg’s new book, OMG, it is also great. She’s a very good writer who really explores how most of us feel at some time or another and weaves it into a story.

B has just about wrapped painting all the outside buildings and trim. A very big job!

tonight is roast turkey breast,and baked potatoes,I had frozen. If your looking for A great freezer idea, double stuffed potatoes are terrific. I cut the potatoes in half , then it’s more like a side dish. I’ll steam some broccoli on the side.

I’m finally coming out of the dex haze, hurray….

 

Monday morning catch up.

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I’ve been busy with all kinds if things since last week especially as the rev/dex wore off. This is my week off till probably Thursday. That’s the earliest I can get delivery as you have to sign for the revlimid. So, I’ve painted kitchen cabinets, worked on organizing pots and pans. Also, did another sweep thru the pantry. 

On the low spend September, it’s not been to good. I’m doing great with food/non food but house painting and house miscellaneous is still adding up. Two trips to Home Depot , and another $75 apprx. Then some more paint for the aviary, and so it goes. I guess I’ll be happy if we can at least cut the food/ non food some. 

I read “My Life in France” ,by Julia Child. It was really pretty fascinating. Now I’m reading some little murder mystery paper back, can’t even think of the title. 

This week I work 1 extra day,but next week I’ll e filling for my co worker who is getting surgery. I’m a little concerned especially being on revlimid. I’m telling myself, just pace yourself. 

Oh, the exciting news was yesterday was my 100 th day walking! Now I’m going for the next 30 days. I havent  really lost any weight but I’m walking and that’s what matters. 

On a sadder note, a myeloma blogger on the myeloma beacon, isn’t doing well and is expected to die in the next few days. It’s always a somber reminder that this is a terminal disease. She lives in Idaho, and has a wonderful dog named Kemmer. He’s a beautiful golden retriever. She also has an incredibly support sister, Jani, who has been there for her the whole way. She’s tried every combination of drugs, and now nothing is working. I’ll miss her posts.

Sunday night chit chat.

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  • imageReading: Just finished Elizabeth Alder’s “Just Don’t Tell”, ok mystery thriller.
  • now I’m reading”the Silent Wife”. It is excellent, but again this is a true psychological thriller.
  • Watching: I watched a stupid girl movie, “Friends with money”, dont waste your time.
  • Listening to: fire planes, there is a fire in our area.
  • Cooking/Baking:made a yummy chicken stir fry.
  • Happy you accomplished this week: Well, I walked every day, we got the studio painted, inside and out.
  • Thankful for:  My wonderful husband, my two great children, our health insurance , and life is good.
  • Bonus Question: Can you walk well in high heels? Do you wear them often?
  • I would love to wear a pair of jimmy choo’s just once, but alas, I have terrible feet and have to wear something low with a ton of support.
So,on a different note, I should get the call about my revlimid today. I see the doctor on Thursday , so I will explain how unhappy I was that this fell thru the cracks somewhere…
On the other hand I got an extra month off chemo, but if my numbers are up again, I won’t be thrilled about the delay.
The picture is from DLBliss campground in Tahoe, where B  and my daughter Sachi are camping and kayaking.I’m  home on cat duty.

Sunday night chit chat

Posted in budgeting, cooking, freezer cooking, frugalism, minimalism, reading, simplicity by

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  • Reading? The new Jack Reacher”A Wanted Man” , very good.
  • Listening to? We were listening to the wind.
  • Watching?later, Castle.
  • Cooking/Baking? Made the stuffed shells ,from the freezer cookbook, a big salad with blue cheese dressing.
  • Happy you accomplished this week?alot with my new freezer cookbook.
  • Looking forward to next week? I have next Saturday off, so I’ll go to the farmers market!
  • Thankful for today? My 2 great kids, my cancer is stable, and my husband.
  • *Bonus Question* Do you like your name? Would you change it if you could?
  • I’ve always liked Anne or Annie.